History

n 1876 A. G. Bell telephone patent n 1878 The first exchange constructed in La Porte, the US n could connect any two of the 21 subscribers n manual switching (!) n 1891 first automatic exchange: Strowger Switch by Almon B. Strowger: an undertaker in Kansas City n A 100 line Strowger switch: n each user has its own selector n no concentrators n expensive